Probably the Easiest Haiku Writing Course in Japan (Beginner's Seasonal Word List Gift Included)

* July 27, 2021... I have attached the JPG and PDF versions of the seasonal word list that many of you requested at the end. I think you can view them from your smartphone now.

For those who are interested in haiku but don't know how to start, or don't know how to write one. In this article, I will introduce a secret, easy way to write haiku that anyone can do right away.

I used this method to win a haiku prize just two months after I started, and a year and a half later, I was able to receive a Newcomer's Award (Encouragement Award). (I even received prize money.)

The method is very simple. Please try it out. If you only want to know the essentials of writing haiku, please read 3. Let's try writing a haiku. Also, at the end, I am giving away a free 'Seasonal Word List for Beginners', so please feel free to download it. Now, let's get started...

1. Get a Saijiki (Learn about seasonal words)

First, this. Haiku is written in a form called 'yuki-teikei' (fixed form with seasonal words).

'Yuki' means using a seasonal word to capture one of the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter, or the New Year.

'Teikei' means expressing it in 17 sounds (5-7-5).

This is the fundamental premise of haiku. (I often get asked by people who want to start with free-form haiku that doesn't stick to 17 sounds, or haiku without seasonal words, but these are also based on the yuki-teikei form and are established through technical arrangements from there. So, let's master the basics first. It will never be a waste.)

The 17-sound part is easy to understand, but just be careful that it is not 17 characters.

The problem is the 'yuki' (seasonal word) part. To write haiku, you must know seasonal words. Honestly, I think you might be feeling, 'What even is a seasonal word?'

But rest assured. In the world of haiku, there is something like a dictionary of seasonal words called 'Saijiki', which has been created by great haiku poets since ancient times.

First, get a Saijiki, read it, and check what kind of words are seasonal words. There are also online Saijiki popping up here and there, and the quality is quite good. If you are just trying it out, I think online is fine.

However, if you want to do haiku seriously, buy a book. It is overwhelmingly superior in terms of being able to write notes in it and cross-reference seasonal words. Once you know the seasonal words, you are already at the starting line of being a haiku poet.

Also, I often get asked by people who want to buy a book, 'What kind of Saijiki should I buy?' This is because there are many types of Saijiki, and the seasonal words included vary depending on the publisher and editor, so beginners don't know what is good or bad..

I recommend a paperback-sized Saijiki. It doesn't take up space, you can carry it when you go out, and it's affordable. I bought 'The Easiest Haiku Saijiki' by Momoko Tsuji and Genki Abe at the beginning, and I still use it today.

If you are hesitant or find it troublesome to choose, please go with this book. Also, even if you choose a different Saijiki, I think it's better to have one that is divided into several volumes by season. This is because in haiku, you will basically be writing about the season you are currently living in. Carrying a whole year's worth of books is bulky and quite tiring.

And, although this is not essential, I recommend it for those who are particular about the form or for the bourgeoisie (laughs).

The encyclopedia type. It is very large and heavy, but it is all in color, and just looking at it is exciting. I wanted this encyclopedia-type Saijiki, so I found a used one in good condition and begged my wife to buy it for me. I feel happy when I read it alone at night while drinking alcohol.

2. Let's choose a haiku pen name

　When you hear the term 'haiku pen name' (haigo), it sounds a bit formal and unapproachable, but it is essentially a pen name for someone who writes haiku. (A 'gago' is a pen name used when writing tanka.) I highly encourage everyone to choose a haiku pen name.

　Why do I want you to choose a haiku pen name? It is because,

　It is easier to live your life if you separate your real-life name from your creative-world name!

　That is what I mean.

　When I first started writing haiku, I felt a bit embarrassed about choosing a haiku pen name, so at my first haiku gathering, I just wrote my real name in hiragana as 'Kameyama Kouki' and have used it ever since. While it is true that Kameyama Kouki has become established, honestly, I regret not thinking about it a little more.

　This is not just about haiku; I believe that even for those who write tanka or poetry, it is better not to use your real name if possible. Let me explain why, using my own haiku as an example.

Crushing shaved ice, do I even believe in gods?

My bones in the field, my soul a shooting star

Spider lilies, the scar on my fist is still hot　　

Spring gale, the day I had wings

　People who don't know my true nature often see my haiku like the ones above and get the impression that 'this author must be hard-boiled' or 'he must be a quiet man'.

But that is not the case at all.

　In reality, I am a frivolous, bearded, bespectacled guy whose mouth moves faster than his brain. It is common for people meeting me for the first time at a haiku gathering to be disappointed, saying, 'You're not what I expected.'

　I have digressed, but what does this mean? It means...

　If you try to write cool haiku under your real name, it feels somewhat embarrassing, but if you write haiku under a pen name as an alter ego, you can write without any strange inhibitions and put your heart into your work.

　That is what I mean.

　Also, you don't have to stick to one haiku pen name for your whole life.

　So, to answer the previous question, that writer is,

Masaoka Shiki

was the one. Moreover, the problem only covered a small fraction of the haiku pen names and artistic names he used. If even the person who laid the foundation for haiku was like this, we, as ordinary people, should be free to choose our own casually.

Also, regarding how to choose a haiku pen name, honestly, I think anything is fine. Please choose one that you like. Taking the pen names of famous historical haiku poets as examples,

and so on.

Also, common pen names for women include,

・Suzuki Masajo

・Mitsuhashi Takajo

・Takeshita Shizunojo

・Nakamura Teijo

and so on. Adding the character 'jo' (woman) to the end of the name was a trend in the past. (By the way, it was trendy for men to add 'ko' (child) to the end of their names.)

Well, in this day and age, I really think anything is fine. However, having a haiku pen name really changes your mood. You can get into 'haiku mode,' thinking, 'I'm going to write a haiku.' By all means, try creating one.

3. Let's try writing a haiku (Haiku writing tips)

Congratulations to those who have cleared Step 1 and Step 2. Once you've come this far, all that's left is to write a haiku. And I think this is the part you're most curious about.

From here on, while using the blackboard and examples, I will teach you how to write cool haiku. If you follow the points I summarize below in order, you will be able to create a haiku that you won't be ashamed to show anyone. (Or so I believe).

Here we go...

・Step A Write with 5 sounds + 12 sounds

This is a theory advocated by Natsuki Itsuki, a teacher famous for the haiku correction segment on TV. As a major premise, you create a haiku by dividing the 17 sounds of a haiku into two different words or phrases of 5 sounds and 12 sounds. Please understand this first.

・Step B How to create 5 sounds

Specifically, how do you create the 5-syllable part? Please insert a seasonal word here.

At this time, the point is not to use words like "ya" as seen in "The old pond, a frog jumps in, the sound of water" or "Matsushima, ah Matsushima, Matsushima." First, please try to find and use a seasonal word that is exactly 5 syllables from a saijiki (seasonal word almanac). (The reason is complicated, so please don't worry about it for now. If you are curious, please contact me and I will explain it in detail.)

As an example, I will try using "summer stars".

・Step C: How to create the 12-syllable part (visualizing)

Regarding how to create the 12-syllable part, first, try to visualize the 5-syllable seasonal word you chose earlier. What kind of image or feeling does it give you?

In terms of emotions, what does it feel like?

In terms of color, what does it feel like?

What does it feel like in terms of size?

How many are there?

I think this will be different for everyone imagining it. There is no right answer. Please cherish the image you felt. That will lead to the charm of your haiku.

And now, let's try to create a 12-syllable phrase that captures an image or feeling that is the opposite of what you felt for the 5-syllable image. (In haiku theory, this is called toriawase (combination) or nibutsu shogeki (clash of two objects). It's difficult, so you don't need to worry about it at first.)

I have a glittering image of summer stars, so I will try to create a 12-syllable phrase with the opposite image. In other words, something that feels somewhat lonely or melancholic.

・Step D: How to create the 12-syllable part (trying to write a sentence)

Now, for the specific way to create the 12-syllable part, keep the image you decided to use for the 12 syllables in your head, and first, without worrying about the 12-syllable count, try thinking of a few words or sentences that have a meaning like "something of something".

At this time, let's avoid using seasonal words found in the saijiki for the "something" part. (For example, words like "a rotting apple." Apple is a seasonal word. This is a haiku taboo called kigo-gasane, where two or more seasonal words are used in a single haiku.)

I think it's hard to understand, so I'll give you an example. For instance,

"A broken clock"

"Bent nail"

"Full mailbox"

These are sentences that are mainly adjective + noun.

・Step E: How to create 12 syllables (Refining)

Next, let's refine the candidates you've created into 12 syllables each. The key point here is to refine them into 12 syllables that avoid explaining the reason as much as possible.

Haiku is a form of expression known as the world's shortest poem.

"I was moved like this!"

There isn't enough character space to just explain the reason. It might be a little scary, but trust that the reader will feel what you wanted to express, and omit the explanation. (As an aside, sometimes readers even feel things the author didn't intend, which is very fun and, in my opinion, one of the real thrills of haiku.)

Since it's hard to understand, I'll give some examples.

For "broken clock," first imagine what kind of state the clock is in, and make it "old clock without a long hand." At this time, don't add the reason why the clock is broken... or why the long hand is missing. For example, "old clock with rusty hands." Even without saying that much, the reader will imagine a "broken clock" just from the description.

For "bent nail," add a little information to make it "a nail that is warped." A bad example would be "nail bent from a missed strike," which explains the reason why the nail is bent.

For "full mailbox," I think adding specificity like "my mailbox full of flyers" is good. A bad example would be "mailbox full because I was away," which explains why the mailbox is about to overflow.

The above are just examples. I think there are other ways to express them, so please try it out.

・Step F: Combine with a seasonal word

Once you've reached this point, all that's left is to add the 5 syllables and 12 syllables together.

Following my example,

and so on. A perfectly good haiku was created. If you create haiku in this way, you will end up with a fine poem. Once you get used to it, you can try changing it to 12 syllables + 5 syllables, or try using a 3-syllable seasonal word and thinking of 14 syllables. You can apply it in various ways.

Finally, when you've made various ones like the above and are unsure which one is best, choose the one you think is most suitable for making the scene feel like a scene from a movie, a painting, or a photograph. Haiku is poetry. Ultimately, the one you felt was beautiful is the best one.

4. Conclusion (How to Improve Your Haiku)

I believe that everyone who has read this far has felt some kind of charm or potential in the form of expression that is haiku.

Naturally, if you are going to do it, you want to get better. So, I will teach you the methods I believe will help you improve at haiku.

Participate in a Haiku Gathering (Kukai)

Haiku is a literature of the gathering. When you actually sit down and practice haiku with people who enjoy it, you will encounter phrasings and sensibilities you would never have thought of yourself. Eventually, those concepts that were not in you will be slowly digested and become your own expressions.

In short, it is a great learning experience.

Also, since many people who do haiku are elderly, they are very happy when young people join. They will teach you the flow of the gathering and how to write haiku step-by-step, so please feel free to participate without any worries.

With COVID-19, some people may find it difficult to participate in gatherings.

In such cases, please by all means use the

Boshu Online Haiku Gathering

that I operate.

You can enjoy this gathering completely free of charge.

Boshu Online Haiku Gathering Introduction Article

Boshu Online Haiku Gathering Example

If you would like to participate or are interested, please fill out the form and contact us at the email address on the poster.

Please fill in the above and contact us at the poster email address.

Get Your Haiku Corrected

Let someone who is good at haiku at the gathering look at the poems you have written. For any sport or hobby, the best way to improve is to have a teacher and learn from them.

If you cannot participate in a gathering, there are also initiatives where you can receive haiku corrections from famous teachers by mail. An organization called the Modern Haiku Association conducts haiku classes for beginners and provides correction guidance.

Also, if you have a favorite teacher, it is a good idea to ask them for guidance directly. If the teacher presides over a haiku society, try diving into that society.

The haiku coterie Pegasus, which I participate in, is also recruiting members. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out!

Other than that,

Always carry a saijiki (seasonal almanac) with you. I also think it is good to find your favorite poet and learn from their expressions.

But above all, just start by writing many haiku, even if you don't fully understand it yet, and get the numbers in. I believe that is the shortest path to improvement. Just as you cannot become Ichiro without continuing to swing the bat.

To help make your haiku life even better,I am also here to help. I accept consultations and questions regarding haiku for free at any time, so please feel free to consult me via email or comments.

That is all. Thank you for reading this long text.

・Free gift: Kigo list for beginners

Finally, I will present a five-character limited saijiki (carefully selected by Koki Kameyama).

Everyone, please use this to write lots of haiku!

Let's enjoy haiku!